"The Sharks looked to the future Saturday and decided it was time for their first California draft choice to become part of it.
Matt Nieto, an 18-year-old Boston University left wing from Long Beach, became the franchise's initial Golden State pick when he was taken in the second round of the 2011 NHL draft in St. Paul, Minn.
Nieto -- who left California at age 14 to develop his hockey skills first at a Connecticut prep school, then in the U.S. national team development program -- remembers getting hooked on the sport watching the Mighty Duck movies at an early age. His biography lists the Los Angeles Kings as his favorite team, but that information is out of date.
"San Jose's my new favorite team now," he said in a conference call. "I'm putting my Kings days in back of me."
Having traded their first-round pick to Minnesota on Friday in the deal for All-Star defenseman Brent Burns, the Sharks made Nieto their first 2011 pick on the draft's second day. But to be sure they would get him, general manager Doug Wilson moved up 12 spots to 47th overall, throwing the Florida Panthers a third-round pick in 2012 to swap places with them in the second.
"We were watching this guy over two years now," said Sharks director of scouting Tim Burke. "He has offensive ability on the rush and has shown he can do other roles, like penalty kill."
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Nieto scored 10 goals and 23 points as a freshman teammate of Charlie Coyle, the former San Jose prospect who was shipped to Minnesota as part of the Burns trade.
"He's one of the younger guys who had a degree of notoriety going in, and there was added pressure on him," Burke said. "I think his adjustment took a little bit longer, but the second half of the year he really came on."
Nieto said his best asset was his speed.
"And I think I'm at my best when I use it in all situations," he added. "I'm definitely an offensive player, but I'm reliable in my own end."
The Sharks have had a California-born player -- Scott Parker -- on the roster before. And one of their free-agent signings now in the system -- Sena Acolaste -- was born in Hayward. But the team was not oblivious to the significance of drafting a California player."
